The quest for improved solutions for healthy aging is gaining momentum, prompting dsm-firmenich to unveil groundbreaking longevity innovations at the upcoming Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show in Barcelona, Spain. The company is set to present what it calls “landmark science” that supports health expectancy through various premix and market-ready formats.
Nutrition Insight had the opportunity to speak with Anneleen Spooren, Senior Vice President of Innovation, R&D & Regulatory, Health, Nutrition & Care, at dsm-firmenich, to delve into the company’s dedication to longevity at the event.
“The science we’re showcasing — aimed at slowing biological aging and addressing the key hallmarks of aging — signifies a significant advancement in the field, and we want attendees to experience its practical implications through an immersive experience,” she explained.
The company plans to highlight its innovations in the show’s New Products Zone and Tasting Center, concentrating on four core hallmarks of aging: cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Spooren notes that these advancements empower brands to address the rising consumer demand for products that promote healthy longevity with confidence and agility.
Key trends shaping the health expectancy market are also on the horizon, as outlined by Spooren.
“Firstly, preventative health measures will gain traction as consumers seek proactive solutions to maintain wellness over the long term rather than responding to issues as they arise. Additionally, a movement towards more holistic, ‘stacked’ interventions — solutions combining multiple ingredients with varied benefits — will become more prevalent,” she stated.
“Furthermore, the demand for scientifically validated products with strong evidence and clinically backed claims will continue to rise, as both brands and consumers prioritize credibility and measurable results in the longevity sector.”
Key Hallmarks of Aging
Spooren emphasizes dsm-firmenich’s commitment to a science-driven understanding of the aging process, especially from a cellular health perspective, to uncover effective targeted nutritional interventions.
Anneleen Spooren, SVP Innovation, R&D & Regulatory, Health, Nutrition & Care (image credit: dsm-firmenich).“By honing in on fundamental cellular processes, we are developing solutions that address four essential hallmarks of aging, aiming for enhanced health expectancy,” she explained.
These hallmarks are cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
“As senescent cells accumulate over time, they contribute to a pro-inflammatory environment that hampers surrounding tissues and leads to dysfunction and impaired regeneration,” Spooren elaborated. “To combat this, our innovation — Cellular Repair — selectively eradicates these senescent cells without harming healthy ones.”
She further observed that a persistent inflammatory response can heighten oxidative stress, accelerating cellular aging and contributing to age-related diseases. “Our Age Slower innovation takes a targeted nutritional approach to help the body manage this critical process,” she noted.
As individuals age, a decline in microbial diversity, coupled with an increase in harmful pathogens, deteriorates gut barrier integrity and incites systemic inflammation, resulting in gut dysbiosis.
“This imbalance disrupts digestion, immunity, metabolism, and cognitive health. We have developed a solution that blends prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to restore gut balance and enhance resilience, ultimately extending health expectancy,” Spooren explained.
Addressing mitochondrial dysfunction, she added: “When mitochondria are unable to produce sufficient energy or manage oxidative stress, it leads to cellular damage, aging, and various age-related diseases. We have an innovation in development to tackle this crucial hallmark of aging.”
Product Innovations
At the New Products Zone, dsm-firmenich will unveil its game-changing innovation, Age Slower, which specifically targets chronic inflammation.
“This initiative is backed by the significant DO-HEALTH trial research, Europe’s largest healthy aging study,” Spooren stated. “Published in Nature Aging, the study’s outcomes provide compelling evidence that a combination of targeted nutrition — using our premium omega-3 and vitamin D ingredients, life’s Omega 60 and Quali-D — along with lifestyle changes like exercise, can slow biological aging by approximately three months over a three-year period.”
The DO-HEALTH study, conducted by the Swiss University of Zurich, indicated that taking one gram of omega-3 daily for three years delayed biological aging by an average of 2.9 to 3.8 months among 777 participants. Combining the fatty acid with vitamin D and exercise yielded additional advantages.
We presented dsm-firmenich’s Longevity Shift experience at last year’s SupplySide Global trade show.Additionally, dsm-firmenich’s Cellular Repair innovation addresses cellular senescence, where the function of affected cells diminishes, contributing to a pro-inflammatory environment that accelerates aging and age-related conditions.
Spooren shared that senescent cells not only lose functionality but also secrete damaging molecules that adversely affect neighboring cells. “Our solution leverages natural flavonoids with senolytic properties, enabling the selective removal of senescent ‘zombie’ cells while preserving healthy ones,” she explained.
Visitors to Vitafoods Europe 2026 will have the opportunity to taste this ingredient at the Tasting Center, where Cellular Repair will be showcased in an on-the-go format using Easysnap, a one-hand opening technology.
The Longevity Shift
After its debut at last year’s SupplySide Global, dsm-firmenich will bring its interactive installation, “The Longevity Shift,” to Vitafoods Europe 2026. Spooren articulated that this experience aims to radically reshape industry perspectives on longevity, shifting focus from mere lifespan to maintaining health throughout that time.
“Our goal is to emphasize the necessity for the nutrition industry to transition from a focus on life expectancy to one centered on health expectancy, underpinning science-based strategies to support well-being in later years. This paradigm shift, coupled with our distinct Health Expectancy Solutions, will pave the way for innovative preventive health products grounded in research, ensuring that our later years are among our best,” she noted.
Spooren explained that the company’s next steps will aim to advance the science behind its offerings while accelerating the market readiness of its products.
“We will diligently support and enhance the evidence base for healthy longevity and health expectancy, building on pivotal research like the DO-HEALTH study, while effectively translating those findings into scalable product development,” she elaborated.
The company intends to expand its portfolio of Health Expectancy Solutions into both premix and market-ready formats, facilitating quicker transitions from concept to launch for brands, according to Spooren.
“Looking ahead, we are also progressing on our next innovation targeting mitochondrial dysfunction — further fortifying a comprehensive, science-driven approach to healthy aging,” she concluded.
